Target projecting device utilizing a can and a blank cartridge



Oct. 17, 1961 A. M. JOHNSON 3,004,360 TARGET PROJECTING DEVICE UTILIZING A CAN AND A BLANK CARTRIDGE Filed MEIOh 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nmnnm nmnnnnnnnnnmnn BY N T ATTORNEY$ Oct. 17, 1961 A. M. JOHNSON TARGET PROJECTING DEVICE UTILIZING A CAN AND A BLANK CARTRIDGE Filed. March 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A w 7. antigen Patented Oct. l7, 1961 3,004,360 TARGET PROJECTIN G DEVICEUTILIZING A CAN AND A BLANK CARTRIDGE Arthur M. Johnson, 1600 Grace Church Road, Silver Spring, Md. Filed Mar. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 14,448 6 Claims. (Cl. 421) This invention relates broadly to the art of devices for projecting or discharging targets or other objects into 10 the air for flight therethrough and in its more specific aspects it relates to such a device which produces a charge of gas which is operable on a surface of the target or other object to propel it from the device and into the air; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood -by those skilled in the art to which it relates in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present believe to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions, of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

Trap shooting has long been a popular sport and consists generally of tossing or ejecting a disk of clay or the like into the air as a target for the marksmen to shoot at. Various target ejecting means haveheretefcre been mf 'lmsinvenfiorrwiii w osed' by many who'may'not lr used for propelling the so-called clay pigeon into the air and many of them are relatively expensive to produce, and may be somewhat complicated mechanically.

It has been one of my objects to provide a device for projecting a target or other projectile into the air which is relatively inexpensive to produce, requires little or no maintenance, and is practically fool-proof in its operation and is safe to handle and operate. In evolving this device I have provided, in efiect, a gun which generates a charge of gas when it is fired and'which gas charge is I caused to impinge upon an imperforate surface of the target or other projectile to eject it from the gun and into a relatively flat trajectory which is highly desirable. I 40 In shooting at targets, which may for instance be clay pigeons, a substantial number of the targets will be consumed in a shooting session. Since the cost of conventional targets is not inconsiderable, target shooting may be economically out of the reach of many who would otherwise be practicing the pastime. With the expense of conventional targets and projecting means in mind,

I have devised a projecting means which is adapted to project, propel and fire used or empty beverage cans or the like, such as used beer cans, into the air as the target for the marksman. The substantial saving in the cost of conventional targets will be readily apparent, for used or opened cans are obtainable pra'cticallyyanywhere, and at no cost. a

A number of problems were encountered in designing a projector which would satisfactorily propel empty cans into the air with a desirable trajectory so that the desirable and necessary flight distance would be obtained. For instance, it was necessary to provide a target or projectile receiving head which would eceive the target, projectile or can in relatively sealed relation thereto so that the propelling compression of the pressured gas would not be lost, and the target or projectile" would be projected from the head under the action of the gas propellant. 1

I have solved this particular problem by providing a projecting device which uses a pressured gas as the propellant for the target. As one example, I have herein illustrated a blank cartridge, the explosion of which generates a charge of gas which propels the target or pro- 70 jectile from the projecting device. It is within my contemplation, however, to use compressed gases other than those created by the explosion of a blank cartridge and I; therefore do not intend that this projecting device be limited solely to use with blank cartridges.

In attaining my purposes I have provided a unique type of target or can receiving head which ensures that no compression will be lost and that substantially all of the generated pressure will be directed against the imperforate end or surface of the target, can, or projectile. This is accomplished by causing the target or can when operatively mounted in the head of the projecting device to be in releasably sealed relation relative thereto, so

that the pressured gas will cause the target to be ejected from the head for its flight through the air. In accomplishing my objective of providing a highly satisfactory projecting device I have made use of the conventional configuration of the can or target to coact with the head to ensure against loss of compression and also to prevent the lodging of paper from the spent cartridge in the head which, from my experiments, causes loss of compression and failure of the device to properly project a target into the air.

In evolving the target receiving head which is endowed with the above-mentioned and other attributes, I have not sacrificed simplicity of design and assembly nor the very definite advantage of ease of mounting the target into operative position in the head. Since the device mechanically adept, it is considered important that the target be easily and quickly mounted in sealed operative position in the head, and I have provided such an arrangement, for it is merely necessary to insert the target into the head and the device is ready for firing. =No extraneous locking or the like means is required and no V the explosion or the release of the gas occurs and the pressured propelling gas is generated. The pressured gas is ducted to the imperforate surface ofthe target and I have so constructed and arranged the ducting means with respect to the combustion chamber that the gas pressure .is increased and built up to create ample pressure to eject the target from the gun or projecting device. Involved in V the aforesaid pressure increasing means is also the novel positioning of the imperforate surface of the target relative to the duct for conveying the charge of gas. The usual can end has a bulge therein, forming in effect a convex surface, which under a charge may bulge inwardly. My device is so designed and constructed-that the path of the pressured gas charge is not substantially enlarged by the configuration of the can end so that the compression of the charge will not be lost.

It is desirable that the impcrforate charge receiving surface not be perforated by the force of the charge being applied thereto by the explosion of the cartridge or by the cartridge wad. I have found that the force of thepressured gas and the wad may be sufiicientto perforatethe charge receiving surface of the target so that the eject ing force may be reduced and thetarget may notbeused again. I have devised a design andconstruction which. ensures against the perforation of the charge receiving surface so'that the full effectof the pressured gas will beapplied to the target and the target may be retrieved for re-use. I have also designed the duct for conducting the pressured gas and the wad to eliminate sharp corners and to cause the wad to break up for its ejection from the duct. a

In a device of the character in which I am interested, it is important that it be engineered to provide for the safety of the user. This target projecting device is so device in the path of the ejected target.

designed that in its operation it requires the use of both hands of the shooter thereby eliminating the possibility of the shooter having one of his hands in front of the Furthermore, I have provided an assembly which prevents accidental firing as a result of an inadvertent rap or blow on the operating knob or trigger of the device. I have also provided means automatically ejecting the shell when the device is opened for reloading. The device of this invention has been designed so that it cannot be overloaded by using oversize blank ammunition and loaded ammunition cannot be received in the combustion chamber. Thus, 1 have adequately and amply incorporated safety factors into the device.

While I have adapted my target projecting device for use with empty cans, such as the conventional beer can of commerce, it is to be distinctly understood that this is merely by way of example and I do not intend to limit the targets with which my device may be used to cans, such as empty beer cans. It is therefore fully Within my contemplation to use a variety of types of targets with my target projection device.

With the foregoing general objects, features and results in view, as well as certain others which will be apparent from the following explanation, the invention consists in certain novel features in design, construction, mounting and combination of elements, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the target projecting device.

FIG. 2 is a rear end view in elevation of the device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device.

FIG. 4 is a front end view in elevation of the device.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6. is a View of the device in opened position ejecting a spent shell and with parts of the device being broken away.

For clarity and simplicity of description I shall hereinafter refer to the target or projectile which is projected into the air by my projecting device as a can, but it is to be understood that my projecting device has been designed to and will project objects other than cans into the air.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the numeral 1 to designate the can receiving and mounting head in its entirety. The head is of annular configuration and comprises a circular base plate 3 which is formed about its periphery with a stepped formation providing a radially extending continuous seat or ledge 5 from the periphery of which radially extends a further and wider continuous seat or ledge 7. I provide a continuous rim 11 upstanding from the edge of seat 7 and the outer end of the rim is formed with a continuous radially inwardly extending lip 13 which may be of slightly less width than the width of the seat 7. Within the annular pocket formed by seat 7, rim 11 and lip 13, I insert a sealing rim 15 which may be formed of any suitable compressible material having a degree of resilience, such material may be neoprene, rubber or the like. The sealing ring is dimensionally such that it snugly fits within the aforesaid pocket and its width, i.e., its radial dimension, being substantially the same as the like dimension of the seat 7. The upper end of the sealing ring will extend radially inwardly of the inner edge of lip 13, as at 17. As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, a circular can receiving area 19 is defined by base plate 3 and the sealing ring 15 which area is adapted to receive and mount the end portion of a cylindrical can of commerce, for example, a used beer can.

Extending through the base plate 3 is a duct designated generally by the numeral 21, the duct forming a compression chamber for the gas charge and also a means for conveying the gas from a primary gas chamber and to the imperforate end of the can for projecting the can from the device and into the air. The duct 21 is provided with an inlet end 23 and the diameter thereof is gradually and uniformly reduced outwardly to provide a discharge end 25 of reduced diameter relative to the inlet end.

As will be apparent, the duct 21 extends through the base plate 3 at an angle to the horizontal or axis of the entire device.

I affix to the back surface of base plate 3 a generally rectangular block or plate 27, which I shall term the combustion chamber block, and this block may be affixed to the base plate by means of screws 29 or in any other suitable manner. A pair of spaced pins 31 and 32 are provided which project rearwardly from the block. The purpose of these pins will be explained hereinafter. At its lower end the block 27 is formed with a pair of spaced-apart depending ears 33 and a pivot pin 35 extends between and is journaled in said ears. A combustion and compression chamber 37 is formed in the block 27 centrally thereof and positioned in line and in communication with the inlet end 23 of duct 21 when the block is fixed to the base plate. The block 27 is also provided with a slot 39 opening into the combustion chamber and extending downwardly therefrom and through the lower edge of the block between the ears 33 thereof. Operable Within this slot is an ejector for a cartridge 41 which is positioned within the combustion chamber. The ejector may comprise an arm 43 which is mounted on pivot pin 35 and extends upwardly therefrom and is swingable in slot 39. At its upper end the arm 43 is notched as at 45, the notch being adapted to engage the rim 47 of the cartridge for its ejection from the combustion chamber when the ejector arm is rocked rearwardly. The ejector arm at its lower end is provided with a cam surface or shoulder 49 which is engaged in a manner to be described to cause rearward rocking motion of the ejector arm.

The handle forming housing for the firing mechanism,

or the mechanism for releasing a pressured gas, is operatively connected to the unit comprising the block and the head so that the combustion chamber may be accessible for loading and unloading of the gas producing means. This unit of my projecting device comprises a member 51 having a bore 53 therethrough and having a depending skirt or ejector operating portion 55 which is hingedly mounted on pivot pin 35 between the ears 33 by means of forwardly projecting journals 57. The member 51 also involves an upwardly projecting leg 59 having a notch 61 formed in the upper part thereof.

Fixed by press fitting or by other means at one end within the bore 53 of the member or collar 51 is an elongated sleeve 63 which may be formed of metal or other suitable material. At its opposite or outer end the sleeve is internally threaded as at 65 for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained. The sleeve 63 is encompassed by a handle 67 having a bore in which is mounted the sleeve, the handle 67 abutting collar 51 at its forward end and being closed at its rear end by means of a cap 69 having an externally threaded nipple 71 extending therefrom which is threaded into the rear end of the sleeve. The cap 69 is formed with a bore 73 therethrough.

Reciprocally mounted within the sleeve 63 is a firing pin member which may consist of a cylindrical body 75 of a diameter to have a sliding fit within the sleeve and a firing pin 77 projects forwardly from the body to engage the rim 47 of the cartridge 41. A firing pin stem 79 is fixed to firing pin body 75 and extends rearwardly therefrom and through sleeve 63, through nipple 71 and through and outwardly beyond cap 69. I provide a triggering knob 81 having a bore through which the stem extends, the knob being formed with a recess 83 for receiving the end of the stem on which a nut 85 is threaded. A com pression spring 87 is coiled about stem 79 and when the firing pin, stem and spring are in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the nut 85 is removed from the bottom of the recess 83 leaving a space 89 so that an accidental blow on the knob will not cause retraction of the firing pin and undesired explosion of the cartridge to project the can.

In the embodiment of my invention which I have selected 6 for purposes of illustration only, I have used a .22 rim I have found that the imper forate can bottom will not firing blank cartridge and for this reason the sleeve 63 be perforated by the impingment of the pressured gas is not in alignment with the combustion chamber 37. and the cartridge wad thereon if the duct 21 is formed to In FIG. 3 of the dravvingslhaveillustrated.jmdotted:.nleextend.atmtnangleiotheiurisoiicornbustionshambei i l lines an empty beer can 91 mounted in the head 1, the 5 such angle may be on the order of 25". I have also found O.D. of the beer can body being substantially the same or that the tapering formation of duct 21 also functions to l slightly less than the LB. of the ring 15 so that the end break up the wad for its ejection from the duct.

portion of the can may be inserted in the head. It is con- After the can is fired from the projecting device, the' ventional practice for each end of a can to be formed lever 103 is rotated to remove the latch 101 from its lockwith an external bead 93 thereon which extends radially ing position in notch 61 so that the housing unit may be l outwardly a small distance beyond the circumferential swung downwardly on pivot 35 into the position shown Wall of the can body. in FIG. 6. This hinging or pivoting motion of the hous- The said head 93 also extends longitudinally a slight ing Will cause depending skirt portion 55 to engage shoul- 1. distance beyond the end wall 95 of the can, der 49 on the ejector arm 43 causing it to rock rearwardly 1 When the end portion of the can having the imperforate retracting the spent cartridge 41 with it for its removal 3 end wall 95 is inserted in the head to full operative posifrom the combustion chamber so that a new cartridge tion, the head 93 will rest on seat 5 and the radial pormay be inserted. The housing unit is then swung uption of the bead will slightly compress the ring 15, causwardly and locked in operative position by the above deing a complete seal at this point which, as will become apscribed latching means. The ejector arm 43 will be rocked parent, ensures against loss of compression. The cenforward to the position disclosed in FIG. 3 by engageter portion at least of the normally outwardly bulged can ment with collar 51.

: bottom will be in contact with'the base plate 3 at the dis- It Will be appreciated that the diameter of the head charge end of duct 21. If found desirable, the inner m y be ri to suit targets f y ng di m er shapes j a surface of ring 15 may be greased prior to inserting a and forms without departing from the spirit and scope of 1 can in operative position therein. 25 my invention, and while I have illustrated'the gas gen- 1 As pointed out above, the handle forming housing for crating means as comprising a .22 blank cartridge, it will i the firing mechanism is hingedly associated with the unit be understood that it is within my contemplation to use comprising the head and the combustion chamber forma gas charged container which would be opened by peneing block so that access may be had for loading the device rfiti n 1 herwise by the firing pin.

i and for removing the spent gas generating means, and I Not only does the compression of the ring 15 by bead provide lgckjng means for locking the housing in pera- 3. produce the desirable seal to prevent COIIIPI'CSSlOIl tive position. Such means may comprise a spindle 97 losses, but this arrangement also functions to prevent therefirom through journal means 99 and carrying a latch Q becoming wedged under or behind the ring which plate 101 on theend thereof from which an operating lever ig t Cal-1S6 distortion thereof, upsetting its Sealing funcl rotatively mounted in block 27 and extending rearwardly Waste matter resulting from explosion of the cartridge 1 l 103 extends. The latch plate lill isrotatable into positiOntion in notch 61 to hold the housing in locked operative It Will 110W he recognized that I have devised a Simple position and is movable to unlocked position as illustrated and eihcieht means for pfolficiing targets ihto'the l i FIG, 2 to permit the housing to Swing down to loading which may be used, for instance, to project used cans or l and unloading position, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The pin 40 other j cts Which are in plentiful supply and at no 31 constitutes a stop for lever 103 while pin 32 maintains 605B leg 59 against lateral play which might result from con- I 013191: tinuous hinging movement of the housing unit. A Projecting devihe p oi a @2111 having a With the can 91 properly inserted, as explained above, P p l head on at least one d into the said i and the mechanisms in the positions disclosed in FIG. 3, Y including a h Providing an area, a base Plate form- &' the device may be fired by grasping triggering knob 81 mg an end of said area, a seat formed about the periphery and pulling it rearwardly which causes the fi i pin of said base plate, said seat being below the surface of her to be retracted i the sleeve and the spring to be said base plate which is directed toward the area, said area pressmi Release f the triggering knob permits the fi i adapted to releasably receive and mount a can therein in pin member to be sharply moved forwardly under the biasahutmeh} Wlth Said base Plate and With e bead of the ing action f the Spring and into fi i engagement with can receivedin said seat, means fixed on said head for rethe cartridge, causing the blank to explode in combusleasahly malhtalhhlg he an mounted Within the area tion and compression chamber 37. The pressured cases a and Sald devlPe mchldmg a Prhssufe chamber Containing will move into duct 21 and against the imperforate end gas 'f g 3 5 and said Pressure Chamber be g of the can to propel it from the head and into the air. In commumcatlon Wlth said area for directing the p Since the inlet end of the duct 21 is of reduced diameter gas agaihst the can for its ProjectiOll from the d relative to the combustion chamber and the interior of the and the all, and meal-15 operable to activate Said gas duct is more or less of conical form, the gas pressures generahhg f h will be increased and built up prior to their impingement A P l devlce for Projecting a Call having a P upon the imperforate surface of the can. Since the rate of flpherfil bead 011 at e t 0116 d into the air, said device burning of Smokeless powder increases in Proportion to ncluding a head having a base plate, said base plate havthe pressure under which it is burnec'r; lfWlll De' seen that "33%a?!hpfifaiilvfihfifffiificafidafialhhfihctfi 1 i fm fi full combustion will result because of the pressures built a'bout the Periphery of Said base P1511te and below thh p 7 up in duct 23 and chamber 37 Merely as an example, and trve surface thereof, a further seat formed about the penot as a limitation, the approximate diameter of the inlet P Y of 531d first hamed Seat and Positioned in a Pla end 23 of the duct 21 may be approximately half the diambelow h Plane of said first named Seat, a continuous rim eter of the combustion and compression chamber 37 The uPstandlng from the p p fyfi Said further at defining combustion and compression chamber 37 is dimensioned an ljeleasably l'ecelvlhg and mounting a can in only to receive the cartridge or gas container for which de- PQ 111 531d area 111 abutment With aid base plate and signed so that a larger cartridge or live ammunition will Wlth the P of can Seated f fiISi named Seat, a not received therein x1 fi i or Operating the device compressible sealing element positioned on said further it is significant to note that one hand must be around Seat and upstanding therefrom in engagement h id handle 67 while the other operates triggering knob 81 so 11111 and ehgageahle y the can to sealably mount the that the user cannot place one hand in front of the can on the head and in said area, said device including a preswhich is being projected. sure chamber containing a gas generating means, said 7 chamber being in communication with said area for directing the pressured gas against the can for its projection from the head and into the air, and means operable to activate said gas generating means.

3. A projecting device for projecting a can into the air, said device including a head providing an area, a base plate forming an end of said area, said area adapted to releasably receive and mount a can therein, means fixed on said head for releasably maintaining the can mounted within the area, and said head including a chamber containing a blank cartridge providing a gas generating means, and said base plate having a gas conducting duct extending therethrough having an inlet end in communication with said chamber for receiving gas therefrom and an outlet end in communication with said area for directing the gas against the can for its projection from the head and into the air, and said duct being of substantially reduced dian2 eter throughout its length relative to the diameter of said chamber, and means to fire said blank cartridge.

4. A projecting device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said duct extends in a uniform direction.

5. A projecting device in accordance with' claim 3 wherein said duct extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said chamber.

6. A projecting device for projecting a can having a peripheral bead on at least one end into the air including, in combination, a head providing an area open at one end for releasably receiving and mounting a can in position for projection therefrom and into the air, said head including means providing a chamber containing a blank cartridge providing a gas generating means, said head having a gas conducting duct extending therethrough having an inlet end in communication with said chamber for re ceiving gas therefrom and an outlet end in communication with said area for directing the gas against the can 3 for its projection from the head and into the air, and said duct being of substantially reduced diameter throughout its length relative to the diameter of said chamber, and a housing operatively connected to said head andmovable with respect thereto to a position opening said chamber for the loading and unloading thereof and to a position closing said chamber when the blank cartridge is to be fired, a. blank cartridge firing member movably mounted in said housing, a stem fixed to said member and extending through and outwardly of said housing, a triggering knob havinga recess therein and said stem extending through said triggering knob and into said recess, a nut threaded on the outer end of said stem and in normal position spaced from the bottom of said recess, and means biasing said member forwardly toward said blank cartridge.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,772 Van Buren Aug. 21, 1894 575,204 Booth Jan. 12, 1897 700,116 Fay May 13, 1902 723,603 Hazlehurst Mar. 24, 1903 771,751 Sanguinet Oct. 4, 1904 1,622,160 Mattlet Mar. 22, 1927 1,681,172 Cocho Aug. 21, 1928 2,003,290 Gurney et al June 4, 1935 2,455,361 Garand Dec. 7, 1948 2,751,711 Greenwood June 26, 1956 2,836,008 Nichols May 27, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 80,550 Germany Apr. 9, 1895 259,063 Italy July 14, 1928 260,802 Italy Oct. 16, 1928 887,521 France Aug. 16, 1943 

